Checklist of Amphibian Species and Identification Guide
Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens
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| The Northern Leopard Frog is a wide ranging and abundant species. It is also one of the more cold tolerant anuran species in Northe America, though it is not known to be freeze tolerant and thus requires a freeze free hibernation site. It is a medium sized frog reaching sizes of 3 1/2 inches in length. It receives its name from its dark spots which are usually circular in shape and irregularly placed throughout the body. The background color can be green, brown or both. There are also two light colored dorsolateral folds, lines of raised glandular skin in an area between the back and the sides. |
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| In addition to the two different common colors, there are also two other pattern variations found in the Northern Leopard Frog. These are the Kandiyohi (pictured directly above) and the the Burnsi (see below) forms. The Kandiyohi form has a light tan background and the usual spots. There is, however, black pigment in a mottled pattern found throughout the background, making the spots hard to see and giving the frog a speckled appearance. |
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| This is the Burnsi phase of the Northern Leopard Frog. It lacks spots altogether and is usually just one solid color. The legs of a Burnsi may still display the bands however. |
 A Northern Leopard Frog with inflated vocal sacs. |
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